Refuting a Myth About Human Origins

For decades, archaeologists believed that our species went through a transformation after emerging on Earth. The first Homo sapiens, the thinking went, looked like us but could not engage in sophisticated behaviors. Somehow, they developed into modern humans, capable of using symbols and developing more advanced tools. Archaeologist John J. Shea says recent evidence, especially from excavations in Africa, is challenging that idea by documenting so-called modern behavior earlier than once was thought possible. Shea proposes studying human variability as a more informative way to understand the experiences of our species through time.